Washing machine and roller drive mechanism therefor



1966 0. A. BRACKMAN ETAL 3,287,942

WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Donald A. Brac/rmtm' BY Byron L. Bracken $1M The/rAf/omey Nov. 29, 1966 D. A. BRACKMAN ETAL 3,2

WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORAS Dona/a A. Brackman BY Byron L. Bracken 29, 9D. A. BRACKMAN ETAL 3,287,942

WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORLS Dona/a A. Brackman BY Byron L. Bruc/ren The/rAttorney 1966 D. A. BRACKMAN ETAL 3,287,942

WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 4 A gifafe Operafion Fig.

INVENTORA Donald A. Brac/rman BY Byron L. Bracken Km 7' heir AfforneyNov. 29, 1966 D. A. BRACKMAN ETAL 3,287,942

WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet FiledFeb.

Spin Operation n a mm mm .4 E, wamfi m 5 .0 A M A mm 0y M 08 T fi m .0.H

United States Patent C 3,287,942 WASHING MACHINE AND ROLLER DRIVEMECHANISM THEREFOR Donald A. Brackman and Byron L. Brucken, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 430,265 16 Claims.(Cl. 68-23) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more Lparticularly to an improved roller drive mechanism for agitating andspinning in a clothes washer.

Roller drive mechanisms, such as taught in the patent to Brucken3,087,321, issued April 30, 1963, use certain self-energizing rollers asidlers members between the motor and the driven member for producingeither agitate or spin. Such roller drive mechanisms may include areversible motor, the reversibility of which determines Whether agitateor spin is produced. Each of the rollers is provided with a resilienttire portion of polyurethane or the like as the motion transmittingsurface. During agitation, one of the rollers is in power transmittingrelationship while the other roller is overridden and merely idles.During the life of the roller, therefore, the tire portion may wearunevenly due to the scufiing action on the tire surface of the rollernot transmitting power. This scufling action tends to form an imdulatedor washboardlike surface on the roller tire. When this wear phenomenonoccurs, a smooth driving connection is lacking between the drive motorand the driven member with the result that the mechanism becomes noisydue to the added vibration in the system.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide in a rollerdrive mechanism means for preventing scufling action on the surface ofthe roller tires in the driving train.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a rollerretraction device for a roller drive mechanism which selectivelywithdraws rollers not being used to transmit power.

A further object of this invention is to provide a roller drivemechanism with means responsive to the direction of motor rotation forretracting the self-energizing roller not then in the driving train withthe motor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic sectional view, partly in elevation, of aclothes washer provided with the improved roller drive mechanism of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, of theself-energizing rollers in relationship to the drive motor andillustrating one of the rollers therein as having the roller retractiondevice of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top elevational view of the roller retractor assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE8;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 taken alongline 5-5 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the roller retractor assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the link portions of theroller retractor assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the roller retractor assembly;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the improved roller drive agitatingand spinning mechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic showing of the roller retractor deviceduring the agitate operation of the roller drive mechanism; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic showing of the roller retractor deviceduring the spin operation of the roller drive mechanism.

For use with this invention and with reference to FIG- URE 1, a clotheswasher 20 is comprised of a control housing assembly 22 and a casing 24.The casing 24 is generally divided into a mechanism portion orcompartment 26 and a Washing compartment or water container chamber 28.A generally centrally located bulkhead 30 separates the mechanismcompartment 26 from the water container chamber 28 which is furtherbounded by a cylindrical water container wall 32. Within the watercontainer 32 is a spin tub 34 having a top opening 36 and a plurality ofcentrifuging outflow ports 38. The ports 38 are designed to permit theegress of water from the tub 34 when the tub is rotated at high speed.For filling the tub 34 with water a conventional water supply system maybe provided with a hot and cold water solenoid operated mixing valve 42which is manifolded into a mixed water supply conduit 44 terminating ata chute overlying the opening 36 of the tub. Within the tub 34, anagitator or pulsator 48 is adapted to reciprocate vertically tocirculate or agitate the water admitted through the water supply conduit44. Thus, clothing placed within the tub 34 is washed as the agitatingaction of the pulsator 48 forces surging toroidal currents of washingfluid and detergent through the fabric. Conventional sequentialoperating timer means, shown generally at 50 on the control housing 22,may be included selectively to admit water through the supply conduit44, to spin the tub 34 and to vertically reciprocate the agitator orpulsator 48.

Roller drive mechanisms for selectively spininng a tub and reciprocatingor oscillating an agitator are taught in the aforementioned Bruckenpatent, in Sisson Patents 3,060,712 issued October 30, 1962, and3,165,911 issued January 19, 1965, and in copending application SerialNo. 128,074 filed July 31, 1961, now Patent No. 3,174,596, and assignedto the same assignee as this invention. This invention is directed to aroller retractor device for use in combination with these roller drivemechanisms, one of which is shown generally at 51 in FIGURE 1, saiddevice providing for removal of the roller not driving, in response tothe direction of motor rotation, thereby eliminating tire wear due toscufling of the tread thereof.

The roller drive mechanism 51 is suspended from a stationary shaftenclosing housing portion 54 which is connected to a resilientcup-shaped support member 56 and which encloses a spin shaft 55 and anagitate shaft 57. The support member 56, in turn, is aflixed to anopening 58 in the bulkhead 30-a suitable sealing gasket being providedto effect a water-tight connection therebetween. In order to dampenexcessive gyrating or swinging movementof the agitate and spinmechanisms lower end, a snubber device 70 may be used of the type taughtin the concurrently filed application Serial No. 430,266. I

Turning now to FIGURE 10, the agitatingand spinning mechanism 51 willnow be described more particularly. The mechanism includes a /3 hp,split phase, single speed 1725 r.p.m., four-pole reversible motor 60with a built-in automatic reset type thermal overload protector. Themotor 60 has a depending power shaft 62 having a spin portion 64 and areduced diameter agitate portion 66 keyed thereto.

On the same general plane as the spin drive portion 64 is a spin wheelassembly or spin driven roller means 68 of the type taught in theconcurrently filed application Serial No. 430,264 while an agitate wheelor agitate driven.

between the spin drive portion 64 and the spin wheel assembly 68.

In general, the operation of the motor 60 in the direction of the arrowsshown in FIGURES and 11 will drive the agitate wheel 70 through theagitate roller 72- this driving motion being translated intoreciprocation through the rocker arm assembly 78. Conversely, with themotor 60 reversed from the operation shown by the arrows in FIGURE 10,as in FIGURE 12, the roller 76 will be drawn into a wedging drivingconnection between the spin drive member 64 and the spin wheel 68 torotate the spin tub 34.

In roller drive mechanisms having a single agitate speed and a singlespin speed, the so-called two-speed mechanism of the aforementionedBrucken patent, one roller, due to overrunning, would be caused to scufiagainst the surface of its respective wheel while the other roller wasin the power train transmitting the driving force. This scuffing actionmay create wear problems on the surface of the tire of the non-drivingroller. In this invention a roller retractor device shown generally at80 solves the problem by automaticallywithdrawing the nondriving rollerfrom scufiing engagement with its respective driven wheel whenever theroller is being overrun or rotated in a direction tending to remove theroller from its wedging engagement between the powershaft and the drivenwheel. 7

At this point, it should be noted that the retractor device 80 is shownonly on the spin roller 76 although it could as well be used with theagitate roller 72. It is not thus used for the reason that the rubbingor scufling action of the agitate roller 72 against the agitate wheel70, during spin, is insignificant due to the small diameter of theagitate driver 66.

Turning now to FIGURES 2-9, the roller retractor assembly 80 will now bedescribed. The assembly is comprised of the spin roller 76 having apolyurethane tire 81 molded onto an aluminum die cast insert 83. Asintered bronze bushing 85 is pressed into the insert to form a hub forthe roller.

For supporting the roller 76 the retractor assembly includes a U-shapedsupport bracket 84 having an upper support arm 86 and lower support arm88 held apart at their terminal ends by a spool-like spacer sleeve 90.Sandwiched between the arms 86, 88 are a pair of pivot arms or links 92,94, an upper pivot arm 92 having a socket portion 96 for rotatablyjournaling the upper end 98 of the bushing 85 while the socket portion100 of the lower pivot arm journals the lower end 102 of the bushing.The diameter of the bushing 85 is oversized relative to the spacersleeve 90 to provide a sloppy fit. In view thereof the socket portionsof the pivot arms as well as the roller 76 journaled therein arepermitted to shift in all lateral directions around the spacer sleeve.

Between the other ends of the pivot arms 92, 94 is a sintered brassretractor roller 104, the bearing sleeve 105 of which is journaled on ashaft 106 which extends through elongated slots 108, 110 in the upperand lower bracket forms 86, 88, respectively. The upper and lower pivotarms also have elongated slots 114, 116, respectively, to permitrestricted, generally radial lateral movement of the retractor roller104 toward and away from the spin roller 76. A leaf spring 120circumscribes the closed end of the support bracket 84 and is attachedthereto at 122, the ends of the spring engaging the grooves 119, 121 inthe terminal portions 124, 126 of the shaft 106 to bias the retractorroller within the limits of the pivot arm slots 114, 116 into engagementwith the spin roller 76, thereby to bias the spin roller and its bushing85'toward the spacer sleeve 90, i.e., to make the rollerself-energizing. A helper leaf spring 130 is attached to the inside ofthe support bracket at 122 and extends into biasing engagement with theinner ends of the upper and lower pivot arms 92, 94 to assist the spring120 in making the spin roller self-energizing and to prevent rattling ofthe retractor assembly during operation.

The retractor roller 104 is thus spring biasingly forced against thesurface of the spin roller 76 at a small angle A (FIGURE 12) from thecenterline between the spin driver and the spin roller, say 20 althoughthis angle will vary with roller drive mechanisms having differentdiameter rollers. In general the retractor assembly should be affixed tothe motor end frame in a manner, during standstill, to cause the spinroller to engage both the spin driver 64 and the spin wheel 68, but in amanner and at such an angle during agitate operation (FIGURE 11), thedrag of the retractor roller 104 in conjunction with the driving forcebetween the spin driver and spin roller will tend to cause the spinroller to wedgingly drive between the retractor roller and the spindriver and away from the stationary spin wheel 68. As the spin rollerretracts, the Pivot arms on which it is journaled pivot about theirintegral arcuate bosses, such as 150, 152 on the upper pivot arm 92..The retraction is limited when the hub of the spin roller engages thespacer sleeve 90. At this point the spin roller and retractor rollerwill merely idle out of scufling engagement with the spin wheel. Whenthe agitate operation ceases, the spring bias of the retractor rollerwill return the spin roller to a position in engagement with both thespin driver and the spin wheel-ready, selfenergizingly, for anysubsequent spin operation.

More particularly and with reference to FIGURE 2, the retractor assembly80 is attached to the lower end frame 134 of the motor by a bolt 136which extends through the spacer sleeve of the roller 76 and threadedlyengages the motor end frame to hold the retractor assembly adjacentthereto. A tang 138 struck upwardly from the support bracket arm 86extends into a hole 140 in the motor end frame to position the retractorassembly relative to the spin driver 64 and spin wheel 68 in the mannerdescribed immediately hereinabove.

Arcuate bosses, such as and 152, on the upper pivot arm 92 are raisedfrom the surface of both pivot arms 92 and 94 and extend through therespective slots. 108 and 110 in the support bracket to provide thepivot point about which the pivot arms move when the spin roller 76retracts.

, The operation of the roller retractor device 80 is best understoodwith reference to FIGURES 11 and 12. The purpose of the device is toeliminate the wear on the tire: surface of the spin roller 76 byeliminating the scuffing action of the roller 76 against the wheel 68which would occur in an overrunning relationship therebetween. In thearrangement of this invention, the retraction is accomplished when theagitate roller is driving.

With reference in particular to FIGURE 12, a spin operation isschematically illustrated when the spin drive: portion 64 of the motorshaft 66 drives the spin roller 76,. spring biased forself-energization, into a wedging, power transmitting engagement betweenitself and the spin wheel. 68, thereby to rotate the spin wheel and,thus, the spin. tub 34 thereabove. For spin, the motor shaft rotatescounter-clockwise. The spin driver 64, being keyed to the motor shaft,drives the spin roller 76. The spin roller is pushed into light contactwith both the spin driver and the spin wheel 68 by the spring loadedretractor roller 104. .As the motor starts to rotate the floating actionof the spin roller on its spacer permits the roller to be pulled byrotational force into positive contact with the surfaces of the spindriver and the spin wheel. Thus, the rotational torque of the motor istransmitted through the spin roller to cause the spin wheel to rotatecounterclockwise.

During spin note that the agitate roller 72, since it is madeself-energizing by the biasing effect of the springs 146, 1 48 on itsoversize hub 151, is rotated by the agitate driver portion 66. However,the diameter of the agitate driver 66 is small compared with the spindriver 64 and the small amount of scufling or overrunning action betweenthe agitate roller 72 and the agitate wheel 70 is negligible and theretraction of the roller 72 unnecessary.

When the motor 6% is reversed to condition the agitating and spinningmechanism 51 for agitate operation (FIGURE 11), the driving train isfrom the agitate drive member 66, the agitate roller 72 and the agitatewheel 70. In this situation, however, the relatively large diameter ofthe spin drive member 64 would cause a considerable scufling actionbetween the mating surfaces of the spin roller 76 and the spin wheel 68.Thus, the rollerretractor device 80 acts to remove the roller 76 fromscufiing relationship with the spin wheel.

It should now be seen that an improved roller drive mechanism has beenprovided wherein the scufling action of the roller tires in aself-energizing roller drive mechanism is overcome by retracting theoffending roller automatically to a position which will prevent scuffingand in response to the direction of motor rotation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a washing machine having a tub, an agitator in saidtub, and a roller drive mechanism for reciprocating said agitator androtating said tub, said mechanism comprising (a) support means,

(b) a reversible motor,

(c) an agitate shaft supporting said agitator on an upper end thereof,

(d) a rotatable spin shaft drivably connected to said tub,

(e) a shaft housing afiixed to carry said support means and at leastpartially enclosing said agitate shaft and said spin shaft,

(f) an agitate driven wheel rotatably supported by said support means,

(g) said agitate driven wheel having an angularly directed crankportion,

(h) an agitate arm assembly having a rocking end universally movablyconnected to said agitate shaft and a crank end relatively rotatablyconnected to said crank portion,

(i) a spin driven wheel drivably connected to said spin shaft andcoaxial therewith,

(j) power shaft means drivably connected to said motor and having apower shaft agitate portion adjacent said agitate driven wheel and apower shaft spin portion adjacent said spin driven wheel, and

(k) an agitate idler roller and a spin idler roller rotatably andspring-biasingly, relatively laterally movably supported by said supportmeans adjacent said power shaft agitate portion and said power shaftspin portion respectively for self-energizingly positioning themselvesin power transmitting relationship between the respective power shaftagitate or spin portions and the respective agitate or spin wheels inaccordance with the direction of motor operation,

(1) one of said idler rollers being in spring-biased, non-drivingengagement with its respective agitate or spin power shaft portion whenthe other of said idler rollers is in power transmitting relationshipwith its respective agitate or spin power shaft portion,

(m) said one of said idler rollers having a resilient tire thereonnormally subjected to irregular wear at the surface thereof due toscuffing engagement of 6 the roller tire with its respective agitate orspin wheel,

(11) and means for automatically retracting said one of said idlerrollers from engagement with its respective agitate or spin wheelwhenever the other of said idler rollers is in power transmittingrelationship.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retracting means includes aretractor roller engaging said one of said idler rollers for lateral androtational movement therewith and having an axis parallel thereto, saidretractor roller and said idler roller being biased toward therespective driven wheel and power shaft portion at a sufiicient anglethat the drag of the retractor roller in conjunction with the drivingforce between the said one of said idler rollers and its respectivepower shaft portion will tend to cause said idler roller to wedginglydrive between the retractor roller and the said power shaft portion andaway from the respective driven wheel.

3. In a washing machine, spin tu'b means, agitator means in said spintub means, means for rotatably supporting said spin tub means, motormeans, power transmitting means drivingly connecting said motor means tosaid spin tub means for rotating said spin tub means and to saidagitator means for moving said agitator means, said power transmittingmeans comprising a plurality of motion transmitting roller means havingdiflerent moment arms and at least some of said roller means beingself-energizing, said power transmitting means being operable forselectively transmitting motion through different combinations of rollermeans to select predetermined. different speed ratios between said motormeans and said tub means or said agitator means, and means forretracting one of said motion transmitting roller means from onecombination of roller means in response to the selection of anothercombination of roller means for transmitting motion, whereby to preventsaid one of said roller means for overrunningly scuffing the surface ofanother one of the roller means in said one combination of roller means.

4. The washing machine of claim 3 wherein said retracting means includesmeans engageable with said one of said motion transmitting roller meansand draggingly reacting to the rotation thereof for causing said lastnamed roller means to drive itself from said one combination of rollermeans.

5. In a' washing machine, spin tub means including agitating meanstherein, means for rotatably supporting said spin tub means, motormeans, power transmitting means drivingly connecting said motor means tosaid spin tub means for rotating said spin tub means and for moving saidagitating means, said power transmitting means comprising a plurality ofmotion transmitting roller means having different moment arms and atleast some of said roller means being self-energizing, said powertransmitting means being operable for selectively transmitting motionthrough difierent combinations of roller means to select predetermineddifferent speed ratios between said motor means and said tub means orsaid agitator means, and means for removing one of said motiontransmitting roller means from one combination of roller means inresponse to the selection of another combination of roller means fortransmitting motion, whereby to prevent said one of said roller meansfrom overrunningly scuffing the surface of another one of the rollermeans in said one combination of roller means.

6. The washing machine of claim 5 wherein said motor means is reversibleand the selection of a combination of roller means is dependent ondirection of operation of said motor means.

7. The washing machine of claim 6 whereinsaid means for removing one ofsaid motion transmitting roller means is responsive to the direction ofoperation of said motor means.

8. In a washing machine, spin tub means including agitating meanstherein, means for rotatably supporting said spin tub means, motormeans, power transmitting means drivingly connecting said motor means tosaid spin tub means for rotating said spin tub means and for moving saidagitating means, said power transmitting means comprising a plurality ofmotion transmitting roller means having diiferent moment arms and atleast some of said roller means being self-energizing, said powertransmitting means being operable for selectively transmitting motionthrough different combinations of roller means to select predetermineddifferent speed ratios between said motor means and said tub means orsaid agitator means, and means for retracting one of said motiontransmitting roller means from one combination of roller means inresponse to the selection of another combination of roller means fortransmitting motion, whereby to prevent said one of said roller meansfrom overrunningly scuifing the surface of another one of the rollermeans in said one combination, said retracting means comprisingretractor support means afiixed adjacent said one combination of rollermeans, said retractor support means having spacer means and meansforming a pivot point, pivot arm means having a. journal portionjournaling said one of said roller means and a slotted pivot portion,said one of said roller means having hub means larger in diameter thansaid spacer means and around said spacer means, a retractor rollerjournaled in the slot of said pivot portion with its aXis parallel tosaid one of said roller means in a manner to facilitate limited movementtoward and away from said one of said roller means, and means forbiasing said retractor roller into engagement with said one of saidroller means and for bias-ing said pivot arm means away from saidsupport means and toward the said one combination of roller means,whereby the direction of rotation of said one of said roller means willdetermine the direction said pivot arm means will pivot about the pivotpoint in said retractor support means thereby to add said one of saidroller means to said one combination of roller means or to retract saidone of said roller means therefrom.

9.'An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising, two shaft meansconcentrically arranged, support means for said shaft means, spin drivenroller'means drivably connected to one of said shaft means for rotatingsaid one of said shaft means, means drivably connected to the other ofsaid shaft means for motivating said other of said shaft means, agitatedriven roller means rotatably carried by said support means for drivingsaid motivating means, reversible power shaft means, firstself-energizing roller means laterally movable with respect to said spindriven roller means and said power shaft means for selectively wedginglyengaging said spin driven roller means and said power shaft means tomotion transmittingly connect said power shaft means with said spindriven roller means when said power shaft means is operating in onedirection for inducing spinning, and second self-energizing roller meanslaterally movable with respect to said agitate driven roller means andsaid power shaft means for selectively wedgingly engaging said agitatedriven roller means and said shaft means to motion transmittinglyconnect said power shaft means with said agitate driven roller meanswhen said power shaft means is operating in the reverse direction forinducing agitating, one of said first 'or second self-energizing rollermeans including an idler roller and means for moving said idler rollerout of wedging engagement with its respective driven roller means inresponse to the direction of operation of said power shaft means.

10. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising, two shaft meansconcentrically arranged, support means for said shaft means, spin drivenroller means drivably connected to one of said shaft means for rotatingsaid one of said shaft means, means drivably connected to the other ofsaid shaft means for motivating said other of said shaft means, agitatedriven roller means rotatably carried by said support means for drivingsaid motivating means, power shaft means operable in a first and secondmanner, first self-energizing roller means movable with respect to saidspin driven roller means and said power Jshaft meansfor selectivelywedgingly engaging said spin driven roller means and said power shaftmeans to motion transmittingly connect said power shaft means with saidspin driven roller means when said power shaft means is operating in afirst manner for inducing spinning, and second self-energizing rollermeans movable with respect to said agitate driven roller means and saidpower shaft means for selectively wedgingly engaging said agitate drivenroller means and said shaft means to motion transmittingly connect saidpower shaft means with said agitate driven roller means when said powershaft means is operating in a second manner for inducing agitating, oneof said first or second self-energizing roller means including an idlerroller and means for moving said idler roller out of wedging engagementwith its respective driven roller means in response to the manner ofoperation'of said power shaft means.

11. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 10 wherein said powershaft means includes a large diameter portion engaging said firstself-energizing roller means and a small diameter portion engaging saidsecond self-energizing roller means.

12. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 11 wherein said powershaft means is reversible.

13. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 12 wherein said meansfor moving said idler roller, includes a retractor roller having an axisparallel to said idler roller and being spring biasingly, rollinglyengageable with said idler roller.

14. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said idlerroller has a polyurethane tire and said retractor roller is sinteredbrass.

15. A roller retractor assembly for a roller drive mechanism comprisingsupport means adapted to be aflixed adjacent a train of motiontransmitting roller means, said support means having spacer means andmeans forming a pivot point, pivot arm means having a journal portionand a slotted pivot portion, an idler roller journaledin said journalportion and having hub means larger in diameter than said spacer meansand around said spacer means, a retractor roller journaled in the slotof said pivot portion with its axis parallel to said idler roller in amanner to facilitate limited movement toward and away from said idlerroller, and means for biasing said retractor roller into engagement withsaid idler roller and for biasing said pivot arm means away from saidsupport means and adapted thereby for movement toward said train ofmotion transmitting roller means, whereby the direction of rotation ofsaid idler will determine the direction said pivot arm means will pivotabout the pivot point in said support means thereby to add the idlerroller to said train of motion transmitting roller means or to retractsaid idler roller therefrom.

16. The retractor assembly of claim 15 wherein said idler roller has apolyurethane tire and said retractor roller is sintered brass.

242,307 2,823,546 2/1958 Barrett 74-207 X 3,211,014 10/1965 Sanderson74-207 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

10. AN AGITATING AND SPINNING MECHANISM COMPRISING, TWO SHAFT MEANSCONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID SHAFT MEANS, SPIN DRIVENROLLER MEANS DRIVABLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SHAFT MEANS FOR ROTATINGSAID ONE OF SAID SHAFT MEANS, MEANS DRIVABLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OFSAID SHAFT MEANS FOR MOTIVATING SAID OTHER OF SAID SHAFT MEANS, AGITATEDRIVEN ROLLER MEANS ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR DRIVINGSAID MOTIVATING MEANS, POWER SHAFT MEANS OPERABLE IN A FIRST AND SECONDMANNER, FIRST SELF-ENERGIZING ROLLER MEANS MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAIDSPIN DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS AND SAID POWER SHAFT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELYWEDGINGLY ENGAGING SAID SPIN DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS AND SAID POWER SHAFTMEANS TO MOTION TRANSMITTINGLY CONNECT SAID POWER SHAFT MEANS WITH SAIDSPIN DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS WHEN SAID POWER SHAFT MEANS IS OPERATING IN AFIRST MANNER FOR INDUCING SPINNING, AND SECOND SELF-ENERGIZING ROLLERMEANS MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID AGITATE DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS AND SAIDPOWER SHAFT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY WEDGINGLY ENGAGING SAID AGITATE DRIVENROLLER MEANS AND SAID SHAFT MEANS TO MOTION TRANSMITTINGLY CONNECT SAIDPOWER SHAFT MEANS WITH SAID AGITATE DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS WHEN SAID POWERSHAFT MEANS IS OPERATING IN A SECOND MANNER FOR INDUCING AGITATING, ONEOF SAID FIRST OR SECOND SELF-ENERGIZING ROLLER MEANS INCLUDING AN IDLERROLLER AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID IDLER ROLLER OUT OF WEDGING ENGAGEMENTWITH ITS RESPECTIVE DRIVEN ROLLER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE MANNER OFOPERATION OF SAID POWER SHAFT MEANS.